Katy Freeway Reconstruction

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Construction on ten miles of the Katy Freeway is complete just three years after the work began. The Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program is using a fast track strategy to dramatically cut construction time. Houston Public Radio's Rod Rice reports.

Rebuilding Interstate-10 from the West Loop to the Fort Bend County line is the largest single construction project in Texas history and yet it is being done in about half the time its taken in the past. Gary Trietsch is the Houston District Engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation. He says TX-DOT has never before done 23 miles of road work at one time.

But because all 23-miles of this project were funded at once, nine separate contracts were designed to have the whole job done by late 2008 or early 2009. Governor Rick Perry and Congressman John Culberson joined others officials for a ceremonial ribbon cut marking the completion of the ten mile stretch of the Katy from just west of Highway-6 to the Fort Bend County Line. Culberson says the fast track approach to road building saves time and money.

TX-Dot Engineer Gary Trietsch says reconstruction benefits those who live and work along the freeway.

And there are also sidewalks along both sides of this ten mile stretch of the Katy and 50,000 trees will be planted too. Most of the officials at the ribbon cutting agreed with Governor Perry that construction work was so well planned that there were few complaints.

The next section of the Katy to be completed is the area along the West Loop and Katy interchange. It should be done by late 2007. There's a web site about Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program, you'll find a link at kuhf.org.